Introduction

Astronomers tell us that the light from a polar star will take thirty years to finally reach the earth. So, if you think about it, one of these stars could have already burned out thirty years ago, but its light would still be seen here on earth. It could be just a dead star that is only shinning based on its brilliant past. That is one of the most graphic ways to describe the church at Sardis. Sure, people knew the name, but it was a dead church. Just like the star, it too was just relying on the light of its brilliant past. So, lets see what Jesus had to say to this fifth church that he addressed in the Book of Revelation.

“Write to the angel of the church in Sardis: “The One who has the seven spirits of God and the seven stars says: I know your works; you have a reputation for being alive, but you are dead. 2 Be alert and strengthen what remains, which is about to die, for I have not found your works complete before My God. 3 Remember, therefore, what you have received and heard; keep it, and repent. But if you are not alert, I will come like a thief, and you have no idea at what hour I will come against you. 4 But you have a few people in Sardis who have not defiled their clothes, and they will walk with Me in white, because they are worthy. 5 In the same way, the victor will be dressed in white clothes, and I will never erase his name from the book of life but will acknowledge his name before My Father and before His angels. 6 “Anyone who has an ear should listen to what the Spirit says to the churches."

We see in the first couple of verses that although Jesus really had no words of commending this church, there still was hope because Jesus was the One able to bring new life. He told them in verse one they had a great reputation for being alive but they were "dead." This doesn’t mean they were physically dead, but that they were rapidly dying spiritually. This church in Sardis desperately needed to experience the reviving power of the Spirit of Christ.

CONDEMNATION

This church like the others we have talked about in this series were surrounded by the influence of the Greek culture, specifically the influence of Greek mythology and the Greek gods and goddesses. But oddly enough Jesus never said one word to them about persecution or even false teachers in their midst. Jesus had to confront this church about using their past reputation to make up for their present deadness.

Jesus said there were only a few people who were remaining faithful to Him and not compromising and flirting with sin. The greatest problem in this church at Sardis was that some of the Christians here looked more like the world around them than they did like Christ. Jesus warned them to stay alert and stay faithful to Him and the Gospel and they would be with Him in heaven one day.

COUNSEL

Jesus challenged them to strengthen what remained. He issued five commands to shock them back to life. First, He said "be alert," in other words, realize your condition and be willing to do something about it. Secondly, He said that those around them that are on the verge of spiritual death need to be strengthened and supported, because while their actions seemed acceptable to the society around them, they were coming up short of God's standard. Thirdly, they needed to desperately remember what they had received and heard, -the truth of the faith that was taught by Jesus and passed on to His disciples. Fourthly, they needed to do more than just remember, they needed to keep, obey and live out these truths. And lastly, He said all of this would obviously involve repentance.